KEMPER HALL OF FAME

WILLIAM R. “Bill” SIMPSON

Mr. Simpson joined the Kemper staff in the fall of 1967. He is a graduate of Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, Oklahoma, and a graduate of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he earned his degree in physics. He did his graduate work at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Penn State, and Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville.

While at Kemper, Mr. Simpson taught physical science, high school physics, and the college physics lab. He also coached basketball, football, and track. To this day he carriers great memories of the Kemper cadets who touched his life, and values the lasting friendships that have spanned the years.

Upon leaving Kemper, Mr. Simpson, along with his wife, owned the Gaslight Inn in Boonville. He sold the business when he accepted a teaching and coaching position in Fulton, Missouri. In Fulton he taught physical science, physics, chemistry, plane geometry and initiated the environmental science curriculum, and was chairman of the science department. He also sponsored the science club and the chess club. Many of his former students are now doctors and engineers.

His coaching duties included boys and girls basketball (head coach), boys track (head coach), girls track (head coach) and football. He coached several boy and girl harriers to individual state championships, some of whom have gone on scholarship to major universities like the University of Missouri and the University of Texas.

In his spare time, Mr. Simpson and his wife owned and showed Doberman Pinschers, greyhounds, and whippets. Several of their dogs earned American and Canadian championships as well as numerous obedience titles. One of their Doberman's was the first ever in his breed to earn an American/Canadian ROM (Register of Merit). They owned and showed one of the top winning greyhounds of all times. She was a multi-BIS and Western National Specialty winner. On the day she retired, she was ranked the number one greyhound in the country. William and his wife were active members of the Columbia Missouri Kennel Club where he served as president for several years..